Magistracies (Nova Roma)

Revision as of 12:24, 8 February 2008

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Magistracies are the executive offices of Nova Roma. They can be classified in several ways.

Ordinary and Extraordinary Magistracies

The ordinary magistracies (magistratus ordinarii) are those which are filled every year by regular elections. They are:

• The Consulatus
• The Praetura
• The Aedilitas Curulis
• The Aedilitas Plebis
• The Quaestura

Although the Tribunatus Plebis is not technically classified as a magistracy, in practice it is one of the ordinary magistracies.

Though the Censura is considered an ordinary magistracy, it was filled only in every five years (in some cases not even then), and their term of office lasted 18 months, therefore it is between the ordinany and the extraordinary magistracies.

The extraordinary magistracies (magistratus extraordinarii) are those which are filled only when they are needed. They are:

• The Dictatura
• The Interregnum

Higher and Lower Magistracies

The higher magistracies (magistratus maiores) are those which are most senior in rank. They are elected by the highest of the popular assemblies, the comitia centuriata. The higher magistracies, in decreasing order of potestas , are:

• The Consulatus
• The Praetura
• The Censura

The higher magistracies can also be classified after the degree of auctoritas they have. The higher magistracies, in decreasing order of auctoritas, are:

• The Censura
• The Consulatus
• The Praetura

The rest are lower magistracies (magistratus minores):

• The Aedilitas Curulis
• The Aedilitas Plebis
• The Quaestura

The Tribunatus Plebis is not technically classified as a magistracy, and it would not be correct to regard it as either a higher or a lower magistracy.

The extraordinary magistracies are not classified as either higher or lower magistracies.

Magistracies With and Without Imperium

Imperium is the highest form of executive power in the republic. The magistratus cum imperio, those magistracies which carry not only potestas but also imperium, in decreasing order of imperium, are:

• The Consulatus
• The Praetura

The Dictator has an extraordinary imperium which exceeds the power of any of the ordinary magistrates, and could never be held legally responsible for any action during his time in office for any reason.

The power of the Interrex is hard to classify. Logically it ought to be imperium, because the constitutional duty of the Interrex is to preside over the election of the Consules, and this requires the convention of the Comitia Centuriata: only a magistrate with imperium can convene the Comitia Centuriata. However, strong custom prevents the Interrex from exercising the full range of imperium.

Magistracies without imperium mostly have the lesser power of potestas:

• The Censura
• The Aedilitas Curulis
• The Aedilitas Plebis
• The Quaestura

The Tribuni Plebis have neither imperium nor potestas but the special power of tribunicia potestas.

Curule and Non-Curule Magistracies

The curule magistracies (magistratus curules) are those whose holders are entitled by virtue of their office to sit on the curule chair (Latin sella curulis) and whose descendants are regarded as nobiles. They are:

• The Dictatura
• The Interregnum
• The Censura
• The Consulatus
• The Praetura
• The Aedilitas Curulis

The non-curule magistrates are:

• The Aedilitas Plebis
• The Quaestura

The Tribunatus Plebis, not technically a magistracy at all, is not a curule office.

Vide

• Current magistrates in Nova Roma